Bats broken by Twins pitchers mean 18,000 new trees will be planted in Minnesota

Twins pitchers break bats, Minn. DNR plants trees

MINNEAPOLIS — Bad news for baseball bats is good news for trees.

The Minnesota Twins and the state Department of Natural Resources teamed up this season to launch the “Break a Bat, Plant a Tree” promotion.

Under the deal, 100 trees will be planted in a Minnesota park or along a state trail for every opposing player’s bat broken by a Twins’ pitcher.

When the regular season ended Sunday, Twins’ pitchers had broken 180 bats, which will result in the planting of 18,000 trees.

A ceremonial tree was planted in August along the Luce Line State Trail from Plymouth to Hutchinson. The rest will be planted next spring at sites yet to be determined.

The DNR and the Twins plan to continue the partnership next year.